Abstract
To identify the frequency and intensity of Moral Distress, and to analyze the associations between Moral Distress and sociodemographic and labor characteristics of the nursing team of a Hematology-Oncology. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 46 nursing professionals from a Hematology-Oncology sector of a hospital institution in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, through the application of the Moral Distress Scale - Brazilian version. In the data analysis, descriptive statistics and nonparametric association tests were used. Mortal Distress intensity of 3.27 (SD= 1.79) and frequency of 1.72 (SD= 1.02) were found in this team. The Moral Distress of greater intensity and frequency were related to the denial of the role of Nursing as a patient's advocate and the disrespect to the patient's autonomy, respectively. It is suggested a greater space for discussion among professionals, multiprofessional team and managers, so that adequate conditions of action and communication are provided.
Highlights
Cancer - characterized as a Nontransmissible Chronic Disease - is among the most frequent causes of death in the Brazilian context, constituting a complex public health problem in the Brazilian Health Network, mainly in view of its estimates and increasing number of cases, which give it an epidemiological and socio-economic magnitude
When considering these epidemiological data, care for cancer patients and their relatives/caregivers needs to be understood as a singular moment that demands special attention, since this process is permeated by fear, doubts, insecurity, which demands an ethical and commitment of health professionals
This result was different from that found with nursing professionals from Oncology units in pediatric hospitals in Italy, in which the highest Moral Distress (MD) factor identified was work with doctors who did not have the competence to act[10]
Summary
Cancer - characterized as a Nontransmissible Chronic Disease - is among the most frequent causes of death in the Brazilian context, constituting a complex public health problem in the Brazilian Health Network, mainly in view of its estimates and increasing number of cases, which give it an epidemiological and socio-economic magnitude It is noteworthy, that at least one third of the incidence of new cancers in the world could be prevented. It is expected that 21.4 million new cancers by 2030 and 13.2 million cancer deaths during this period, due to the growth and aging of the population, as well as a reduction in infant mortality and deaths by infectious diseases in developing countries[1,2] When considering these epidemiological data, care for cancer patients and their relatives/caregivers needs to be understood as a singular moment that demands special attention, since this process is permeated by fear, doubts, insecurity, which demands an ethical and commitment of health professionals. The fragility and anguish of the patients and their relatives/caregivers in the face of the diagnosis, course of the disease and treatment are common, and it is fundamental to clarify doubts, curiosities and seek to meet expectations, to act in the preservation of their rights, as a way to alleviate the anxiety and worry of the moment[2,3]
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